The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-08-04
COERCING THE CLERGY.
Experiences of tho Charleston Churches
Atter the Occupation of tho City--BrutnI
Ordor OF tho Post Commnndcr
(From the Sunday News J

| From the Sunday News)
| Having just read the interesting sketcl
OF "Ihe Parish Church of st. Michael, ,
by Mr.. George S. Holmes, which forms
q part OF the "Year Book" for 1886, and
having noticed slight inaccuracy on
page 3O7 Tin the extract from the chron-
Gle of the venerable A. e. Miller) [ am
tempted to correct it while recalling
other incidents of tho times referred to-
Tbs statement is;
"Ihe Rev. Mr.. Howe officiated Of st.
Pauls, with others, until some time in
February, 1865, when he left the CITY in
consequence of his objecting to read the
prayer for the President of the United
States. The same thing occurred to the
Rev. Mr.. Marshall, d. D."
The facts are: Rev. Mr.. Howe did not
leave the city in February, and DIR.
Marshall never left at oil.
The Rev. Mr.. (now Bishop Howe had
been officiating at st. Paul's for some
time when, on the morning of the 18th
February, 1865, the United States troops
entered end, while the fire which burst
out ut tho Northeastern Railroad depot
was sweeping before it the (hen) we'll
known residences in Chapel, Alexander
and Charlotte streets. In this day of
terror and distress the Rev. MIR. Howo
brought comfort to many. On the fol-
lowing Sundays those members of the
Episcopal Church, who were still In the
city, gathered around him at st. Paups
and, on the 10Th and Goth of February,
(Which days were Sundays,) amid ali
that was dark around them, had, ut least,
the comfort of undisturbed religious
worship.
In tho beginning of March, however,
Col. Stewart l.. Woodford, commander
of the post, sent fer Mr. Howe, and,
while entirely courteous in his language
and manner, insisted that tho PRAYER
for the President of tho United States
should be used, or Mr.. Howe must leave
the city. AS Mr.. Howe did not concedc
to an army officer the right to make
changes in the ritual of his church, Col.
Woodford notified him that he would be
sent out Of the city, with every facility
given him to reach his family; but, in
tho meantime, consented to his holding
services on the 9th of March.
On that day Mr.. Howe spoke feclingly
to his congregation, explaining the posi-
ton and taking leave Of us-nono know
for how long. His tones and bearin@
were so impressive that, on his retiring
y
United States navy who had attended
the service hurried aftor him and offered
to use their influence with Col. Wood
ford to induce recall of his or Ter.
They were unsuccessful, and the ncXt
day, March 6, the Rov. Mr.. Howe was
sent by steamer to Georgetown, S. G.
st. Paul's was then closed, but the SER
vices of our church were still held in the
little st. Johns Chapel, Hampstead, by
that venerable, godly man, DIR. Alex.
Marshall.
Hcre for weeks the saddened faces and
still saddor hearts &C those who, pent up
IN Charleston, saw the cnemy's heel
upon her neck, and felt it themselves,
gathered from Sunday to Sunday to
pour out together their prayers and their
sorrows, their hopes and their fears.
This place of worship being remote from
the great highways OF the city, and SO
unprotcnding in itself it was hoped that
religious worship there at least would be
unmolested. These hopes, however,
were rudcly dispolled when on tho 9th
q think Of April the church was closed
and DIR. Marshall given q week to decide
whether he would tako 'tho oath of alle-
glance" and use the prayer for the Pres
ldept of the United States or leave tho
city. DR.. Marshall wrote to Gen. Hatch
TO eXpostulate. Here is the Generals
reply;
HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN DIsrR1cr.
DEPARTMENT OF THE SoUTH.
CHARLESTON, April 25, 1865.
General Orders No. 20.
1t has been reported at these head
quarters that the Rev. Alex. w. Mar
shall, missionary Of st. Johns Chapel,
Hampstead, has, in the services of the
said chapel, since the occupation Of the
city by tho United States forces, omitted
the prayers for the President of the
United States. In written communi-
cation, addressed to the commander of
the post of Charleston, no STYLES the
prayer for the President of the United
States "pOhtical prayer" 1t is, thore-
fore, ordered that he be sent beyond the
lines OF the army, and be forbidden to
enter the city of Charleston during it's
occupation by the United States troops
without permission of the commander of
the district or department.. It is further
ordered that his personal property be
confiscated to tho use of the United
States Government. In furnishing the
head of the congregation worshippinp at
st. Johns Chapel the brigadier- general
commanding desires it to be considered
warming to those who, attending the
services for weeks, so far forgot their
duty to their country as not to inform
the military authorities of the conduct
OF this disloyal priest, with other words
of warning added.
by command Of
Brig. Con. JOHN HATCH.
LEONARD b. PERRY,
Acting Adjutant General.'1
This specimen of war literature. Cot
mutt. all was taken down at the timo.
In tho helpless and almost hopeless
condition of the times, in dread of being
left without clergyman to bury our
dead, DIR. Ms friends induced him to
submit. This tempered Hatch's anger,
and he revoked tho order, but DR.. NJ.
never used tho prayer until there was no
question as to the propriety of using it.
Boforo the next Sunday came round he
was run over by n careless driver, and
Tor months confined to bed of suffering.
JNO. GADsDEN.
Summerville, s. c., July 10, 1887.